Page 54 of The Second Kiss
“Your loss,” Brad shrugs.
I look up at him. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Anytime, Jess.” He smiles down at me, the way he used to, the way that used to melt me. He curls a piece of hair that’s escaped from my ponytail around his finger. “Don’t forget about New Years, kay? I can’t wait to see you in that skirt again.”
Before I can answer, he brushes past Jacob and out the door.
twenty-six
For Everything
Jacob drives like a maniac back to the mall. I decide that it’s better not to mention that I still want to go home to shower and change.
Gage mouths, “He’s pissed.” Like I can’t figure that out on my own.
I’m not sure if Jacob is mad at me for accepting a ride with Brad or if he’s frustrated that he spent his whole day off working on our house and now he has to fix my car.
When we get to my car Jacob tries the key. It makes the same clicking noise that it made when I tried to start it. He swearsunder his breath. “I knew I should have replaced the battery. There’s a parts store just down the road. I’ll do it now.”
“Is this going to take long?” Gage asks. “Me and Jess could go to a movie or something.”
Jacob grunts something unintelligible. I shake my head. It wouldn’t be fair to leave him.
“Well, we can’t stay out here. Jess is freezing.” Gage looks across the parking lot towards a donut shop. “We’ll go get some donuts.”
“I need to go with Jacob to buy the battery. Except…” I search the seat. “I think I left my purse in Brad’s truck.”
“Forget it.” Jacob growls. “Go with Gage. You can owe me.”
As soon as we get back, Gage climbs into Jacob's car with the box of donuts. I walk around to the front of my car, holding a cup of coffee I bought with some change I found in my glove compartment. I peer at the engine over Jacob’s shoulder. “How’s it going?” I’m still worried about making him mad.
“The contacts are all rusted, so I’m having a hell of a time getting battery out.” Jacob is working on loosening a bolt with his fingers. “Damnit.” He pulls his hand out and shakes it.
I put my hand on his shoulder and lean in. “What happened?”
He grabs his knuckle with his other hand. “I tore up my knuckle on one of the bolts.”
“Ouch,” I grimace. “Let me see.” I set the coffee down and hold my hand out for his.
“It's fine,” he keeps his hand against his chest. It's bleeding
“You need a bandage. I have one in my trunk.” I go to my trunk, rummage around for the first aid kit my dad makes me carry, and pull out a bandage and a water bottle.
He reaches for the bandage, but I pull back. "Let me do it.” My heart pounds as I take his hand. I can’t look him in the eye. His palm is streaked with grease and rough with calluses. I rinse off the smashed finger and wrap it with a bandage. When he turnshis hand over there are scars all over his knuckles. I touch his fingers. “Does that happen a lot?”
“Yeah, I should probably wear gloves.” He leaves his hand in mine, and looks up at me. I’m lost for a minute in the depths of his brown eyes. My breath catches in my throat. “Thanks for the bandage.” He pulls his hand away. “What’s Gage doing?”
“Eating all the donuts.” I nod towards the figure in his car. “You want one?”
“No thanks.”
A breeze picks up. I shiver and wrap my arms around my shoulders.
Jacob pulls off the gray ‘Army’ sweatshirt he’s wearing and hands it to me. “You can get in the car if you’re cold.”
“No, I’m okay. I’ll stay out here. Unless you want me to leave...”
“Your choice.” He turns back to his work. “You and Gage have been spending a lot of time together, haven’t you?” It's more of a comment than a question. “My Mom said you hang out almost every night.”
